The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-31
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, ID. G., Mar. 25, 1887.
The composition of the Interstate
Commerce Commission has been the
chief subject of comment here for the
past few days. For the most part it
seemed to give satisfaction, and some |
are even enthusias C in its praise. One
prominent citizen of Washington re-
that the character of the men |
composing the board was ample com
pensation for the delay in tfeir ap- |
pointment.
Now and then you hear Republi-
can object to the appointment of Judge
Cooley as one of the representatives of
his party, saying that he has not been
in accord with the Republican party
for some years, but as rule his selec-
tion is highly commended by leading
men of both sides. The Democrats
would have been gratified if ex- Rep.
resentatiye Morrison's name had head,
ed the list for the longest term of office,
six years, and Judge Cooley given the
the explanation of this was that the
Judge had made such sacrifice to
accept place on the commission that
it was the least the President could do
iced SIS 600 per annum as receiver for
the 81 500 salary of q Commissioner.
In politics, the commission. as was
to be expected, is divided between q
Democratic majority and Republican
minority. The representative char
.cter of each of the democratic men,
,ers. Messfs. Morrison, Schoonmaker
| and Bragg, will pass without question.
DIR. Schoonmaker is said to be the
personal selection of the President
He was a trusted friend of the late
Gov. Tilden and has long had the con-
iidence of Mr.. Cleveland. Mr.. Walker,
of Vermont, has the partisan endorse
ment of Senator Edmunds, and Judge
Cooley, ifquestioned, would pronounce
himself Republican.
The list of names reveals consci.
snlious effort to secure the most com
petent, qualified and able men who
could be obtained for the salaries. In
each case there is something to give
he man peculiar claim to the distinc
ton. Messrs. Cooley, Walker and
Bragg have been prominently identi
lied with the subject af governmental
relations to railroads, Mr.. Bragg al
President of the Alabama Railroad
Commission, and Mr.. Walker as s
member of the Vermont Senate, have
had experience in the formati on and
execution of legislation affecting rail.
roads, and Judge Cooley is perhaps t. {
most eminent authority in the United
States on subjects of Constitutions
law affecting inter. state commerce.
MIR. Morrison is qualified by his long
experience as a lawmaker, his thor
pugh study of commercial questions
and his universally recognized integ
rity and earnestness. Mr.. Schoon
makers special fitness for the appoint
ment lies in his familiarity with the
laws and commerce of New York, anG
his relations to Gov. Tilden as q co
operator in his reform measures.
The new law is vast problem. Ev
cry feature of it's operations is mere OIL
|. So uncertain. and whatever is done
adverse criticism and vigorous opposi
ton may be expected. Under the cir
Icumstances the President could scarce
Iiy have followed better rules of seIec
ton. In choosing the Commissioned
on the basis of merit, he has relieved
himself of responsibility to a greater
degree than he could have done sby
appointments based more upon politi
cal and personal considerations.
The construction of the Inter. State
commerce Commission has" been 8
work of six weeks for the President
To make it satisfactory, fairly repre-
sentative of all conflicting interests
and fairly representative of the various
sections of the country-conditions
which are necessary, because the com
mission will be in its widest sense q
National court-the attempt to do all
this, the President says, has been the
most difficult puzzle of his administra.
ton. Several times he supposed he
had the Commission con p eted, but
each time some hitch would occur and
an entire redistribution of the places
was necessitated. Every time four
good members were secured it was
found impossible to get fifth who
would exactly fit in with the other
'our and then complete recast was
required.
The labors of the Com mmission will
be comprehensive, and considerable
force of clerks and assistants will be
required. Substantially the Capital
will have q new Department.. Alto
gether the effect upon this city will be
more pronounced than that of any new
law D0ssad in racent yoors